Lady ‘Rockers earn 2 big victories at Midland Classic

Lady ‘Rockers earn 2 big victories at Midland Classic
By Brad Blume
Sports Information Director
RAPID CITY --- The South Dakota School of Mines women’s basketball team earned two big wins over the weekend at a tournament in Fremont, Neb., while the Hardrocker men fought hard but came up short in two outings at a tourney in Omaha, Neb., and the SDM cross country season officially came to an end with the running of the NAIA National Cross Country Meet in Kenosha, Wis.
Women’s Basketball
The South Dakota School of Mines women’s basketball team earned two big victories this past weekend, defeating Mid America Nazarene, 92-91, Friday and then rolling over the host school, 87-58, Saturday during the Midland Lutheran College Classic in Fremont, Neb.
Against Mid America Nazarene, who was ranked seventh in the preseason Top 25 poll, the Hardrockers (ranked 16th) had quite a battle. The game was not decided until the very final second of regulation.
SDM led at the half, 42-31, but the Pioneers rallied in the second half, outscoring the ‘Rockers, 45-27, Mid America caught and overtook SDM toward the end of the contest and the two squads exchanged leads until the very end of the game where senior Amber Deweerd, (Rock Valley, Iowa) made good on a pair of free throws to put Mines up by the final score.
SDSM&T Jessica Tsignine powers her way through the lane en rout to the hoop during the Hardrockers last home game. SD Mines won two big games on the road over the weekend. Photo by Brad Blume
The Hardrockers saw four players reach double figures. NAIA First Team All American senior Melanie Vedvei (Lake Preston, S.D.) had a stellar outing, cashing in for 27 points and had six assists, converting 7-11 from the free throw line. Sophomore Bethany Holyoak had a career best 20 markers in the game and Deweerd and senior Jennie Malone (Rapid City, S.D.) playing in her first game this season both chipped in 10 points for the Hardrockers.
Sophomore Nicole Martin (Missoula, Mont.) also had a nice outing, coming down with 14 rebounds, 10 of which were defensive, to lead SDM
In Saturday’s bout against Midland Lutheran, the Hardrockers jumped out to a 42-31 advantage in the first half and then outscored the Warriors, 45-27, in the second stanza to win the game, 87-58.
SD Mines got a lot of contribution as five Hardrockers scored double digits. Deweerd paced the way with a 21-point effort, while freshman Jerika Ihnen (Tea, S.D.) put up 17, Malone added 16 to go along with seven assists and four steals and Vedvei and freshman Stephany Bjustrom both dished in 13 points. After the tournament both Vedvei and Deweerd were named to the Classic all tournament team. Vedvei’s performance also moved her up on the all time scoring list. She is now in third place ahead of Miaken Zeigler (1,674 points) and Ann Konechne (1,654 points) with 1,683 points.
The wins give the Lady Hardrockers a 6-1 record on the season and will next see action this weekend on a very difficult road trip. SDM takes on Northwestern Iowa Friday in a 4 p.m. bout and then plays the University of Sioux Falls Saturday in a 2 p.m. tip-off.
Men’s basketball
The South Dakota School of Mines men’s hoops team played two close contests but couldn’t quite gain the advantage in either game, falling to Grace University, 67-64, and coming up short to Midland Lutheran College, 78-74.
Against the Midland Lutheran Warriors, the Hardrockers led at the half, 39-37, but were outscored 78-74 in the second period. SDM had some problems getting the ball to drop in the second half, shooing 11-28 for 39.3 percent. The first half faired a lot better, as they cashed in on a 17-28 performance from the field for 60 percent.
Five Hardrockers scored double figures. Junior Brandon Smith (Amenia, N.D.) led the way with 16 points, followed by sophomore Robbie Fedor’s (Monticello, Minn.) 14. Junior Donny DeGooyer (Great Falls, Mont.) put up 12 markers and led the team in rebounding with seven boards, freshman Michael Ross (Fort Worth, Texas) cashed in 11 points and freshman A.J. Trennepohl added 10.
No stats were readily available from the Grace University matchup.
The Hardrockers will host the U.S. Bank Thanksgiving Classic this weekend, welcoming Black Hills State, Dana College (Iowa) and Johnson and Wales University (Colo.). SDM takes on Johnson and Wales Friday at 7 p.m. and then squares off with Dana College Saturday at5 p.m.
Cross Country
South Dakota School of Mines senior Rob Hahn (Sioux Falls, S.D.) concluded his college cross country career this year after competing in the NAIA National Championships this past Saturday in Kenosha, Wis.
Hahn finished the 8-kilometer race in a time of 26 minutes 34.3 seconds, which earned him a share of 144th place. Hahn’s time is the second-fast mark he has in that race.
“We were happy with the way he ran,” said Hardrocker cross country coach Jerry Schafer. ��We were hoping he would finish a little higher, but was a more challenging course --- time wise.”
Shafer said Hahn did exactly what he was suppose to do --- stay with the lead pack, and be in the Top 75 by the two-mile mark. In the final part of the race, the Metallurgical Engineering major started to fade.
Rob Hahn finished the NAIA meet in a time of 26:34.3. Photo by Brad Blume “He gave it his best shot,” Schafer said. “He did what we asked. He tried to run with the people up front.”
In other SDSM&T cross country news, senior Kyle Kattke was named as an NAIA Academic All American for the third consecutive year. Kattke, a Black Hawk native that is majoring in Mechanical Engineering has also earned an Academic All American in track and was awarded the NAIA A.O. Duer Award, a scholarship given to one select junior each year by Daktronics.
“Kyle is certainly among the most decorated athletes we have here at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology,” Schafer added.

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Lady ‘Rockers earn 2 big victories at Midland Classic
By Brad Blume
Sports Information Director
RAPID CITY --- The South Dakota School of Mines women’s basketball team earned two big wins over the weekend at a tournament in Fremont, Neb., while the Hardrocker men fought hard but came up short in two outings at a tourney in Omaha, Neb., and the SDM cross country season officially came to an end with the running of the NAIA National Cross Country Meet in Kenosha, Wis.
Women’s Basketball
The South Dakota School of Mines women’s basketball team earned two big victories this past weekend, defeating Mid America Nazarene, 92-91, Friday and then rolling over the host school, 87-58, Saturday during the Midland Lutheran College Classic in Fremont, Neb.
Against Mid America Nazarene, who was ranked seventh in the preseason Top 25 poll, the Hardrockers (ranked 16th) had quite a battle. The game was not decided until the very final second of regulation.
SDM led at the half, 42-31, but the Pioneers rallied in the second half, outscoring the ‘Rockers, 45-27, Mid America caught and overtook SDM toward the end of the contest and the two squads exchanged leads until the very end of the game where senior Amber Deweerd, (Rock Valley, Iowa) made good on a pair of free throws to put Mines up by the final score.
SDSM&T Jessica Tsignine powers her way through the lane en rout to the hoop during the Hardrockers last home game. SD Mines won two big games on the road over the weekend. Photo by Brad Blume
The Hardrockers saw four players reach double figures. NAIA First Team All American senior Melanie Vedvei (Lake Preston, S.D.) had a stellar outing, cashing in for 27 points and had six assists, converting 7-11 from the free throw line. Sophomore Bethany Holyoak had a career best 20 markers in the game and Deweerd and senior Jennie Malone (Rapid City, S.D.) playing in her first game this season both chipped in 10 points for the Hardrockers.
Sophomore Nicole Martin (Missoula, Mont.) also had a nice outing, coming down with 14 rebounds, 10 of which were defensive, to lead SDM
In Saturday’s bout against Midland Lutheran, the Hardrockers jumped out to a 42-31 advantage in the first half and then outscored the Warriors, 45-27, in the second stanza to win the game, 87-58.
SD Mines got a lot of contribution as five Hardrockers scored double digits. Deweerd paced the way with a 21-point effort, while freshman Jerika Ihnen (Tea, S.D.) put up 17, Malone added 16 to go along with seven assists and four steals and Vedvei and freshman Stephany Bjustrom both dished in 13 points. After the tournament both Vedvei and Deweerd were named to the Classic all tournament team. Vedvei’s performance also moved her up on the all time scoring list. She is now in third place ahead of Miaken Zeigler (1,674 points) and Ann Konechne (1,654 points) with 1,683 points.
The wins give the Lady Hardrockers a 6-1 record on the season and will next see action this weekend on a very difficult road trip. SDM takes on Northwestern Iowa Friday in a 4 p.m. bout and then plays the University of Sioux Falls Saturday in a 2 p.m. tip-off.
Men’s basketball
The South Dakota School of Mines men’s hoops team played two close contests but couldn’t quite gain the advantage in either game, falling to Grace University, 67-64, and coming up short to Midland Lutheran College, 78-74.
Against the Midland Lutheran Warriors, the Hardrockers led at the half, 39-37, but were outscored 78-74 in the second period. SDM had some problems getting the ball to drop in the second half, shooing 11-28 for 39.3 percent. The first half faired a lot better, as they cashed in on a 17-28 performance from the field for 60 percent.
Five Hardrockers scored double figures. Junior Brandon Smith (Amenia, N.D.) led the way with 16 points, followed by sophomore Robbie Fedor’s (Monticello, Minn.) 14. Junior Donny DeGooyer (Great Falls, Mont.) put up 12 markers and led the team in rebounding with seven boards, freshman Michael Ross (Fort Worth, Texas) cashed in 11 points and freshman A.J. Trennepohl added 10.
No stats were readily available from the Grace University matchup.
The Hardrockers will host the U.S. Bank Thanksgiving Classic this weekend, welcoming Black Hills State, Dana College (Iowa) and Johnson and Wales University (Colo.). SDM takes on Johnson and Wales Friday at 7 p.m. and then squares off with Dana College Saturday at5 p.m.
Cross Country
South Dakota School of Mines senior Rob Hahn (Sioux Falls, S.D.) concluded his college cross country career this year after competing in the NAIA National Championships this past Saturday in Kenosha, Wis.
Hahn finished the 8-kilometer race in a time of 26 minutes 34.3 seconds, which earned him a share of 144th place. Hahn’s time is the second-fast mark he has in that race.
“We were happy with the way he ran,” said Hardrocker cross country coach Jerry Schafer. ��We were hoping he would finish a little higher, but was a more challenging course --- time wise.”
Shafer said Hahn did exactly what he was suppose to do --- stay with the lead pack, and be in the Top 75 by the two-mile mark. In the final part of the race, the Metallurgical Engineering major started to fade.
Rob Hahn finished the NAIA meet in a time of 26:34.3. Photo by Brad Blume “He gave it his best shot,” Schafer said. “He did what we asked. He tried to run with the people up front.”
In other SDSM&T cross country news, senior Kyle Kattke was named as an NAIA Academic All American for the third consecutive year. Kattke, a Black Hawk native that is majoring in Mechanical Engineering has also earned an Academic All American in track and was awarded the NAIA A.O. Duer Award, a scholarship given to one select junior each year by Daktronics.
“Kyle is certainly among the most decorated athletes we have here at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology,” Schafer added.

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